Closure for cans and like receptacles.



0. LEE. CLOSURE FOR GANS AND LIKE REGEPTAGLES. APPLICATION nun) JAN. 28, 1910.

975,964, Patented N0V.15,1910. v

CHARLES LEE, 0F BUTTE, MONTANA.

CLOSURE FOR CANS AND LIKE RECEPTACLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

Application filed January 28, 1910. Serial No. 540,647.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butte, in the county of Silverbow and State of Montana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Closures for Cans and Like Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a closure adapted more particularly for cans, which will admit of the closure being quickly placed in position and easily removed and atthe same time insure a tight joint so as to exclude air and prevent deterioration of the contents of the can or receptacle such as would be the case if a tight joint were not provided between the closure and can.

lVhile the invention is particularly de signed for sheet metal cans, it isto be understood that it may be adapted for cans and closures of any nature.

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, forming a part of the application, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of a can provided with a closure embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line ma1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail on the line yg of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modification, the closure being thrown open. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the modification on the line 2-2 of Fig. 5, showing the position of the parts when the cover is closed.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawing, by the same reference characters.

The body of'the can, package, or like receptacle is designated by the numeral 1, the same being provided in its upper end with an opening, which is designed to be closed by means of a cover 2. Wings 3 project vertically from the sides of the body 1 and are provided at their upper edges with overhanging portions 4, beneath which engage vertical extensions 5 provided at the outer edges of the cover or closure 2. The wings 3 may be provided in any manner, either as a part of the can body or separate therefrom and soldered or otherwise secured thereto. It is to be understood that the number and position of the wings 3 is immaterial and will depend largely upon the size of the can or package.

The cover or closure 2 consists of a disk or plate having a pendent flange 6 to enter the opening in the top of the can or package and having a portion to overlap the top of the can. The vertical extensions 5 are pro vided upon the upper side of the closure and in position and number to engage under the overhanging portions 4 of the wings 3. The end portions of the vertical flanges 5 are beveled or inclined so as to ride under the overhanging portions 4. Interlocking means are interposed between the overhanging portions 4 and the vertical extensions 5, so as to retain the closure in proper position against accidental displacement. The interlocking means may be of any nature and consist in the simplest form of a notch and a tooth, the notch 7 being shown as provided in the upper edge of the vertical extension and the tooth S as projecting from the lower side of the overhanging portion 4. The relative position of the interlocking means may be changed. The notch and tooth are substantially of V-form so as to admit of the tooth riding into or out of the notch upon applying sutlicient force for turning the closure after the same has been placed upon the can. For convenience of turning the closure the same is provided with a hand piece 9. Notches 10 are formed in the edge of the closure so as to register with the overhanging portions 4, thereby admitting of the cover being placed upon the can or removed therefrom. The parts are sufficiently resilient to admit of the teeth 8 riding upon the upper edges of the vertical extensions 5 and also riding out of the notches 7 upon turning the closure by the application thereto of sufficient force. It may be advantageous to limit the turning of the closure in one direction and for this purpose the wings 3 are provided at one of their ends with inwardly extending flanges 11 forming stops against which an end of the vertical extensions 5 engage. It will be understood that the provision of the stops 11 limits the turning of the closure in one direction, but in the construction omitting the 7 erases and a tooth 8. The closure or cover 12 is pivoted at 13 to the top of the can and is provided with a vertical extension 5 having a notch 7 the latter receiving the tooth 8 when the vertical extension 5 is moved to engage under the overhanging portion 1. A flange let is provided upon the top at one side of the can to engage over an edge portion of the closure 12 and the latter is supplied at its opposite edge with a pendent flange 15 to engage a head 16 at the opposite side of the can. The parts 11, 15, and 16 provide interlocking means between the closure 12 and the top of the can intermediate the parts 13 and at and 5. The con struction is such as to enable the successful use of a disk or plate of sheet metal without necessitating provision of a pendent rim to encircle the can or engage the inner edge of the top bordering upon the opening thereof.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the device which I now consider to be the embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within. the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

1. In combination a receptacle provided with a wing extended upwardly from the top thereof and provided with an overhanging portion, a closure, a vertical wing upon the closure having opposite ends beveled to ride under the overhanging portion of the wing, and positive interlocking means between the vertical extension and wing consisting of a notch and tooth of substantially V-form.

2. In combination a receptacle, a closure for closing an opening in the top of the receptacle, means for limiting the movement of the closure in one direct-ion, securing means between the receptacle and closure for retaining the latter in place and insuring a tight joint, said securing means embodying a wing projected upwardly from the recep tacle and, having an overhanging portion at its upper end, a vertical extension upon the closure to engage under the overhanging portion of the wing, and positive locking means between said overhanging portion and vertical extension consisting of a notch and tooth of substantially V-form.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES LEE.

lVitnesses V. B. HILLYARD, BENNETT S. JoNEs. 

